The High Court in Kampala has denied bail to businesswoman Molly Katanga, extending her stay in Luzira Prison, where she has been on remand for over a year.
Justice Rosette Comfort Kania delivered the ruling on Thursday, dismissing the defence’s arguments that Katanga’s deteriorating health warranted her immediate release. The court ruled that the trial should proceed as scheduled on March 10.
Katanga’s legal team, comprising senior lawyers Peter Kabatsi, MacDosman Kabega, Elison Karuhanga, and Bruce Musinguzi, had urged the court to grant her bail, citing a medical report from Mulago Hospital indicating she required specialised care unavailable in prison.
They argued that continued detention violated her constitutional rights and that the Uganda Prisons Service had acknowledged its inability to provide the necessary treatment.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, maintaining that Katanga should remain in custody given the seriousness of the charges. She is accused of murdering her husband, businessman Henry Katanga, who was found dead in their home in Mbuya on November 2, 2023.
Her daughters, Patricia Kakwenza and Martha Nkwanzi, along with domestic worker George Amanyire and nursing officer Charles Otai, are also facing charges related to evidence destruction and aiding the alleged crime.
In her ruling, Justice Kania stated that while the court had considered the medical evidence presented, the defence had not sufficiently demonstrated that Katanga’s condition could not be managed within the prison system.
“The court finds that the trial is at an advanced stage and should proceed as scheduled. The applicant is therefore advised to seek medical attention within the facilities available,” Justice Kania ruled.
The decision marks the third time Katanga has been denied bail. It remains unclear whether she will physically attend the next hearing on March 8, as she has mostly appeared via video link due to her health condition.
With the trial now set to continue, all eyes will be on how the case unfolds in the coming weeks.